Iran says it fired warning missiles and drones near U.S. warships in Gulf of Oman

Iran’s navy said, on Friday (5), it launched missiles and drones as a warning to U.S. warships in the Gulf of Oman. According to Iranian state media, the move came in response to what Tehran described as harassment of maritime traffic and the seizure of commercial vessels and oil tankers by the U.S. Navy.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA said the country’s armed forces reported that the U.S. destroyers DDG-103 and DDG-8 left the Sea of Oman for the Indian Ocean after the operation. The statement also said the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli had left the area along with the destroyers.

Earlier, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said American forces had intercepted the M/T Davina overnight in the Indian Ocean. The vessel was described as a stateless ship subject to sanctions.

Washington maintains restrictions on Iranian maritime trade, while Tehran is accused of threatening navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the main shipping routes for global oil transport.

In a post on X, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said it would continue maritime enforcement operations to dismantle illicit networks and intercept vessels providing material support to Iran.

The Davina, a very large crude carrier able to transport up to 2 million barrels of crude oil, was placed on the U.S. sanctions list in October 2024 over its involvement in the Iranian oil trade.

The episode comes amid rising tensions in the region, as the United States steps up enforcement of sanctions on Iranian oil exports and Iran renews threats against navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters.

Source: Valor Econômico

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